A plea to Harry Potter fans: Please support J.K. Rowling on her eBay lawsuit!

As we reported previously, JK Rowling is suing eBay for allowing illegal and fraudulent copies of her works to be sold on the auction site. Jo has managed to obtain an injunction which prevents eBay from listing illegal copies (namely e-versions of her books), which is binding until a May 23rd hearing.

Not only is Jo losing out from the auctioning of illegal books, but fans are being hoodwinked and wasting their money.

Marjorie, webmistress of the MuggleNet-affiliated collectors' advice site JKR's Army, was contacted by Neil Blair (Jo's lawyer) who asked fans to lend their support. Marjorie has set up a petition, which we strongly encourage you all to sign. We will soon have more ways you can help, but for now, visit this page for additional info.

Do you agree with piracy in general, or only when you deem the victim to be rich enough already?

I don't condone piracy.

And just because I suggest that her actions are greedy doesn't mean I am making an excuse for others to steal her works. I am making the suggestion that her actions are not above-board. Appealing to the readers of her work to petition so that she can earn more money is the essence of mindless greed.

"In a republic, voters may vote for the leaders they want, but they get the leaders they deserve."

Then why bring the fan's into it, if it is just a conventional defense of copyright.

See, it's not the lawsuit, it's the appeal to the fans.

Because EBay is more likely to respond in the court of popular opinion than in a court of law? Especially for some division of EBay in some other country. Hitting EBay reputation in the USEurope more likely to garner a positive result than tryinig to get EBay Pakistan respond with anything but legal delays.

/shrug

Piracy is one thing. Forgeries is another. Piracy is wrong but costs only money. Poorly written forgeries tarnishes the reputation of the author and branding of the francise.

I have really enjoyed the Harry Potter films. I have not read the books but know many that have. I think it's a great property and franchise.

However, I have some serious problems with JK Rawlings. During the announcement phase and production phases of the first Harry Potter movie she has made numerous disparaging remarks about Americans, American filmmakers and American actors. You can plop the DVD into the player and watch the "making of" for an example that she didn't care who directed the movie as long as it wasn't an American. She absolutely refused to audition or consider any American actors or writers. And then she went on, with a funny laugh, about how those Yanks Chris Columbus and Steven Kloves proved her wrong.

But it was the delivery and contempt in her voice for anything American that soured me to her as a human being and person.

"The selfishness of Ayn Rand capitalism is the equivalent of intellectual masturbation -- satisfying in an ego-stroking way, but an ethical void when it comes to our commonly shared humanity."

I have really enjoyed the Harry Potter films. I have not read the books but know many that have. I think it's a great property and franchise.

However, I have some serious problems with JK Rawlings. During the announcement phase and production phases of the first Harry Potter movie she has made numerous disparaging remarks about Americans, American filmmakers and American actors. You can plop the DVD into the player and watch the "making of" for an example that she didn't care who directed the movie as long as it wasn't an American. She absolutely refused to audition or consider any American actors or writers. And then she went on, with a funny laugh, about how those Yanks Chris Columbus and Steven Kloves proved her wrong.

But it was the delivery and contempt in her voice for anything American that soured me to her as a human being and person.

What's wrong with hiring British actors to play British characters?

You wouldn't hire an Indian to play a black man, would you? WOULD YOU?

That's not anti-American. That's accurate. They hired Irish actors for Irish parts, Hungarian actors for Hungarian parts, and French actors for French parts. I don't think there's yet been an American in any of the books, but if there is one, there'll be an American hired for it.

Why the hell is she suing eBay, instead of the various nefarious folks who are actually selling the pirated goods? If she succeeds in forcing online marketplaces to act as proxies for the FBI and RIAA/MPAA, I just might have to boycott her last book. Dammit.

But I think I'll be OK. If the RIAA hasn't succeeded in this grail quest yet, I doubt little Ms. Rowling will.

I have really enjoyed the Harry Potter films. I have not read the books but know many that have. I think it's a great property and franchise.

However, I have some serious problems with JK Rawlings. During the announcement phase and production phases of the first Harry Potter movie she has made numerous disparaging remarks about Americans, American filmmakers and American actors. You can plop the DVD into the player and watch the "making of" for an example that she didn't care who directed the movie as long as it wasn't an American. She absolutely refused to audition or consider any American actors or writers. And then she went on, with a funny laugh, about how those Yanks Chris Columbus and Steven Kloves proved her wrong.

But it was the delivery and contempt in her voice for anything American that soured me to her as a human being and person.

You wouldn't hire an Indian to play a black man, would you? WOULD YOU?

That's not anti-American. That's accurate. They hired Irish actors for Irish parts, Hungarian actors for Hungarian parts, and French actors for French parts. I don't think there's yet been an American in any of the books, but if there is one, there'll be an American hired for it.

It's a good thing an American played Batman isn't it...oh...wait...a Brit plays Batman. Wow. And the world didn't end. Well at least Alfred was American. Damn. He's a Brit too.

"The selfishness of Ayn Rand capitalism is the equivalent of intellectual masturbation -- satisfying in an ego-stroking way, but an ethical void when it comes to our commonly shared humanity."

It's a good thing an American played Batman isn't it...oh...wait...a Brit plays Batman. Wow. And the world didn't end. Well at least Alfred was American. Damn. He's a Brit too.

Um, what?

Because a British actor played an American character at some point in time makes it perfectly acceptable for all other characters to be played by anyone whatsoever? Besides, Christian Bale is noted for his ability to mimic accents, and Alfred WAS ALWAYS ENGLISH.

Watch, say, some Lord of the Rings out-takes to see some flubs by Elijah Wood in an American accent. Now imagine 10 year olds trying to mimic a British accent. It would be an absolute disaster. (Not that the first two films weren't, mind you )

You don't have a point. You completely misunderstood what J.K. Rowling meant by that statement. That doesn't make her anti-American. That means you have poor comprehension skills and jump to conclusions.

Because a British actor played an American character at some point in time makes it perfectly acceptable for all other characters to be played by anyone whatsoever? Besides, Christian Bale is noted for his ability to mimic accents, and Alfred WAS ALWAYS ENGLISH.

Watch, say, some Lord of the Rings out-takes to see some flubs by Elijah Wood in an American accent. Now imagine 10 year olds trying to mimic a British accent. It would be an absolute disaster. (Not that the first two films weren't, mind you )

You don't have a point. You completely misunderstood what J.K. Rowling meant by that statement. That doesn't make her anti-American. That means you have poor comprehension skills and jump to conclusions.

You know what's really sad. You can't just make your point. You've got to make your point AND you've got to throw in an ad hominem attack while you're at it.

Nice.

"The selfishness of Ayn Rand capitalism is the equivalent of intellectual masturbation -- satisfying in an ego-stroking way, but an ethical void when it comes to our commonly shared humanity."